It's now pretty inconceivable that a Japanese company would be able to snap up American corporate assets as investments.

In the eighties, it was a fact of life.

Starting with a relative trickle at the beginning of the decade, Japanese conglomerates went on an epic buying spree in America during the latter half of the decade after both countries agreed to revalue their currencies.

The trend became so widespread that the "corporate Japanese takeover" concept began leaking into American culture.

Via Google News, we now take you on a tour of this singular moment in the life of both countries...